Local Attorneys Fight Distracted Driving | News

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It's National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and some local attorneys are are heading into our high schools in hopes of reaching out to teen drivers.

"We're coming up on proms, we're coming up on graduations... what we're trying to do is save lives," said Wayne hogan of the Terrell Hogan Law Firm. Hogan is one of a few Jacksonville attorneys reaching out to local high schools.

"We know that there's an epidemic of distracted driving," Hogan said. "Cell phone - that increases the risk of an accident 4 times. Texting is greater than 20 times."

And teens are in the most danger, auto crashes are their number one killer. Students will be a part of interactive and engaging presentations.

"We're going to have to be pretty graphic about it," Hogan added. "We're going to be talking about specific cases."

It's part of a nationwide effort by the Casey Feldman Foundation.

"She was a journalism student crossing the street in the cross walk," Hogan said. "Someone was playing with the GPS and moving a soft drink, ran right over her and killed her."

Despite repeated attempts by some state lawmakers, right now there are no laws against distracted driving in Florida but Hogan points out that could change.

"At some point, what people think of maybe as careless driving, texting and driving, that's going to be viewed as reckless driving; and if that's the case, then it can be treated as manslaughter."

Bottom line, even though it might not be illegal, Hogan said they hope teens will get the message.

"They cannot be texting and driving. They cannot be using their cell phone and driving. They put themselves, they put their friends, and they put others at risk."

So far 6 high schools have signed up. If you would like the "End Distracted Driving" presentation at your teens school, you can contact the Terrell Hogan Law Firm at (904) 722-2228.

In the meantime, we'd like to remind you that First Coast News encourages you to hang up and drive. You can sign our pledge promising to be a safe driver at the Great First Coast Hang Up.